2018 Buick Lacrosse Premium FWD
By Phil Shuyler
The premium mid-sized sedan market is a crowded one, and the Lacrosse may be getting overlooked. Buick is still thought of as a brand for older generations, however if that’s you, the Lacrosse should be on your shopping list.
The Premium trim Lacrosse is an excellent value with loads of standard features, including heated and ventilated front seats (both driver and passenger), massaging front seats (both driver and passenger), fully heated steering wheel, rear vision camera, head-up display, lane keep assist, lane change alert, side blind zone alert, rear cross traffic alert, wireless phone charging, and the list goes on and on. All starting at $38,670. Not bad. And with all of the safety features, the Lacrosse has a 5-star overall safety rating.
The standard engine for the Lacrosse is a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine, with an optional 3.6L V6 available on higher trim levels. The 2.5L has 194 horsepower and 187 lb-ft of torque while the 3.6L has 310 horsepower and 268 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to either the front or all four wheels through a standard 6-speed or available 9-speed automatic transmission. The combination works well and there are paddles on the steering wheel for those who want to take their Lacrosse canyon carving on the weekends.
The 2.5L 4-cylinder engine also includes eAssist light electrification technology, which uses an on-board battery pack to power the vehicle when it comes to a stop. This is handy as the vehicle does not go into “hibernation mode” like many other vehicles when the engine shuts off when it comes to a temporary stop. We’re hoping this technology makes its way into other GM vehicles as well.
Fuel economy is rated at 25 MPG city, 35 MPG highway and 29 MPG combined. We experienced 26 combined, so it looks like we needed to drive with a lighter foot. The AWD model is rated at 20 MPG city and 29 MPG highway.
Both long and short trips are comfortable for all passengers. Ample leg room, supportive seats, and easy to access controls make the Lacrosse a pleasure to drive. We liked the redundant forward and back buttons that mirrored the same icons on the infotainment screen. These physical buttons were easier to reach and remained accessible even when the infotainment screen was not on the audio screen.
Available options include navigation, an 11 speaker Bose surround sound system, power sunroof with second row skylight, automatic parking assist and adaptive cruise control.
The starting price for a base model is $29,565, and a fully-loaded Lacrosse Premiumis around $45,000.
For added performance or traction in inclement weather, you can opt for the available intelligent all-wheel drive with active twin clutch. Keep in mind AWD is only available on the Premium model with the V6 engine, so the base price for an AWD model is $43,470.
The story here is more about value than anything else. What you get compared to what you pay makes this a great buy.